Backyard training works just fine for TUF Live Finale's John Albert

Considering the alternatives, John Albert doesn’t see much to complain about fighting in the UFC’s bantamweight division.

Appearing on “The Ultimate Fighter 14″ was something of a vacation, even if it ended prematurely when eventual season-winner John Dodson stopped him in the tournament’s quarterfinal round.

If not for the show and his impressive showings in the octagon, Albert would be working full-time as an electrician, trying to avoid spine-rattling shocks, and pining for the job he really wants.

“I could have lived a pretty comfortable life, but I love fighting, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep fighting,” Albert today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).

Albert lost in his most recent UFC appearance when he submitted to Ivan Menjivar at UFC on FUEL TV 1. But as losses go, it wasn’t the kind of career back-breaker that leads to a pink slip. Albert rocked the longtime veteran and was on the brink of a stoppage win before running out of gas and exposing himself to a choke.

He saw no point in sulking and returned to the gym a few days later to work on what went wrong.

“I’d never been in that situation before,” Albert said. “I’ve either knocked them out or submitted them instantly. There’s never been a real struggle. So we just sat down, and (I) learned to control myself when I had someone hurt.”

Now 1-1 in the octagon, Albert (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) returns to action Friday as the next season of UFC hopefuls tries to graduate with honors at The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale, which takes place at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Originally scheduled to meet Byron Bloodworth, Albert now is set to fight newcomer Erik Perez (10-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the Facebook-streamed preliminary card, which precedes additional prelim fights on FUEL TV and main-card fights on FX.

Albert is thrilled he got on the reality show before it turned into a 13-week gauntlet of cameras and live fights, and he’s likes the Perez matchup better than his previous booking.

“I think it’s a better fight for me than the Bloodworth fight because he’s got a better record, he’s on a good win streak, and he’s fought good guys,” Albert said. “He’s decent on the ground. He’s got good standup from what I see, but he doesn’t have any put-away power. So I’m not really worried at all in this fight in any direction it goes.”

The fact that Perez comes from the highly regarded Jackson/Winkeljohn MMA school in Albuquerque, N.M., doesn’t faze Albert, who trains in rural Washington with longtime veteran and current UFC lightweight Dennis Hallman.

Albert said the gym is so remote that it attracts only those who want to fight professionally, and that’s the way his team wants things.

“You get the perception that these big gyms have the best guys,” he said. “It’s not necessarily true. This sport is so progressive, and everyone’s getting better. You don’t need to be at a huge gym. I train in Olympia in the back yard of my coach’s house.”

Fans will see on Friday whether Albert has made the necessary improvements to rise above the bantamweight pack. The 25-year-old admitted he’s a mostly average fighter, but has a work ethic that keeps him moving forward.

This time around, he said he’ll pick his shots when he has his opponent hurt.

“(A) 7-2 (record) I don’t think is that bad, and I have a 14-1 amateur record, so I don’t think I’m doing too bad,” Albert said. “I’m not rushing anything. Of course, I want that title. But all I want to do is win and fight and keep fighting. If the title comes, it comes.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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